'10 IL QB Tommy Rees (Notre Dame Man)

[ulukinatme]

My best advise for those that have bad images of Tommy burned into their heads...clear your mind It's a new year, and this team is a far cry from where it was when Tommy was an underclassman. He's not exactly the same person either, for the better I think. If you think about it logically, Kelly isn't going to jeopardize the season by trying to force Tommy into situations he can't win. He's going to rely on defense and pound the ball, calling on Tommy to throw under play action most likely. Theres also the possibility he utilizes dual QBs again.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

This is the image that my mind goes back to when thinking about the first under the lights michigan game.

Acute micromanuitis is no laughing matter.

 

[alohagoirish]

I think some of you are really good Catholics---you have FAITH.

Faith is what it takes to see tommy's performances as better in 2012 then 2011---

2011- 65%
2012- 57%

QB rating in 2011--133
QB rating in 2012--124

Tommy had some good MOMENTS against purdue & Stanford---many of his passes were pretty horrible though---he made a good read on the throw to TJ but it took the BEST CATCH OF TJs career to pull that out.

Tommy's play against Michigan & BYU his long outings, were rather dreadful!

Overall he had 2 Tds and 2 picks---a 1 to 1 ratio and it could have been worse---if he continues that he won't be the QB at the end of the season.

Tommy threw 1 INT for every 29 att in 2011---and threw 1 INT for every 29 att in 2012--

Absolutely no change, and there it is. Its been his way since HS.

Expecting some vast improvement from Tommy IMHO is based on absolutely nothing but wishful thinking.

As far as expanding the playbook because Tommy is so familiar with the offense is another complete misread in my view.

No deep throws--No QB rolls--No read option--No option of any kind--and what Tommy does do will have to managed without any of his go to receivers of the last three seasons---No Eifert, No Floyd---No chemistry at all developed with his receiver corps, that will be a work in progress as the season goes on.

I recommend some of you STEELY yourselves for some very sketchy outings by REES.

His MO is that he will be effective with his quick release against the weaker half of the schedule and mostly DREADFUL against the top half of the schedule.

I like Tommy, but he is an average QB, that throws INTs frequently and has limited physical skills, and none of that is going to change.

My hope is that we run some up-tempo and throw a lot on first down when his quick short passes have their best chance of success. Up-Tempo could keep defenses somewhat honest.

Every DC we play has the book on Rees---if we run the slow, deliberate, cautious offense that everyone will expect I think its very problematic getting much out of this offense in 2013. Defenses will stack the box to stop the run, and we will be facing many 2nd & longs and way too many third downs.

The staff has TWO options IMO.---Run the expected Rees offense , run the ball, throw sparingly, play field position, run the full clock on every snap, shorten the game, & rely on the defense to win close games.---

That is risks fielding a very ANEMIC offense week in and week out.

The alternative is a more aggressive west coast type offense, throw on first down often, pass to establish the run--take some shots downfield to keep defenses honest---have a package for HENDRIX or ZAIRE that allows QB runs and keeps defenses guessing a bit. Don't base the play calling on FEAR of Tommy's inevitable picks--but rather base it on getting as many points as possible with what we have.

Clearly that approach also has its risks .

Personally I would prefer a more aggressive scheme even with the risks , but realistically I expect that staff to play it very slow & safe. Unfortunately I think 10 wins is a HUGE mountain with the offense we will bring in 2013 sans GOLSON/EIFERT/THEO & CIERRE!

 

[NDWorld247]

Everyone says remember the 2012 Tommy, well it was an offensive struggle in both Michigan and BYU where he played the majority of the game.

Tommy's play against Michigan & BYU his long outings, were rather dreadful!

This is BS.

In the Michigan game he was 8-11 for 115yds and a TD in five drives. In those five drives, he led two scoring drives and one drive to kill the clock, including a clutch throw to Eifert that sealed the game.

In the BYU game, he was 7-16 for 117yds with a TD and an INT. The INT was not his fault and our receivers had at least 3 drops with one resulting in the INT and an ensuing BYU TD with a short field. Our offense ran for 270 yards, which is hardly struggling, and our kicker missed two FGs in the first half, which is why this was a close game in the 4th quarter. The game plan was clearly designed to run all over BYU, which we did.

He made ONE horrible throw in 61 attempts - the PITT interception.

 

[NDinFL]

This is BS.

In the Michigan game he was 8-11 for 115yds and a TD in five drives. In those five drives, he led two scoring drives and one drive to kill the clock, including a clutch throw to Eifert that sealed the game.

In the BYU game, he was 7-16 for 117yds with a TD and an INT. The INT was not his fault and our receivers had at least 3 drops with one resulting in the INT and an ensuing BYU TD with a short field. Our offense ran for 270 yards, which is hardly struggling, and our kicker missed two FGs in the first half, which is why this was a close game in the 4th quarter. The game plan was clearly designed to run all over BYU, which we did.

He made ONE horrible throw in 61 attempts - the PITT interception.

Well said

 

[Rhode Irish]

I think some of you are really good Catholics---you have FAITH.

Faith is what it takes to see tommy's performances as better in 2012 then 2011---

2011- 65%
2012- 57%

QB rating in 2011--133
QB rating in 2012--124

Tommy had some good MOMENTS against purdue & Stanford---many of his passes were pretty horrible though---he made a good read on the throw to TJ but it took the BEST CATCH OF TJs career to pull that out.

The sample size from 2012 was way too small to base an opinion on it, IMO. I know the stats, but in addition to the small sample size there is also the fact that a lot of his snaps last year came at a moments notice and he was being asked to execute a game plan designed for another QB that he didn't prep for with 1st team reps. I thought, based solely on the "eye test," that Tommy looked considerably better and more comfortable last year compared to 2011.

I'm the last guy who ever saw himself extolling the virtues of Tommy as the starter, and if Everett was on the team I would be 100% behind him as the starter, but I also have confidence that Tommy can and will have a good year.

 

[NDdomer2]

I think some of you are really good Catholics---you have FAITH.

Faith is what it takes to see tommy's performances as better in 2012 then 2011---

2011- 65%
2012- 57%

QB rating in 2011--133
QB rating in 2012--124

Tommy had some good MOMENTS against purdue & Stanford---many of his passes were pretty horrible though---he made a good read on the throw to TJ but it took the BEST CATCH OF TJs career to pull that out.

Tommy's play against Michigan & BYU his long outings, were rather dreadful!

Overall he had 2 Tds and 2 picks---a 1 to 1 ratio and it could have been worse---if he continues that he won't be the QB at the end of the season.

Tommy threw 1 INT for every 29 att in 2011---and threw 1 INT for every 29 att in 2012--

Absolutely no change, and there it is. Its been his way since HS.

Expecting some vast improvement from Tommy IMHO is based on absolutely nothing but wishful thinking.

As far as expanding the playbook because Tommy is so familiar with the offense is another complete misread in my view.

No deep throws--No QB rolls--No read option--No option of any kind--and what Tommy does do will have to managed without any of his go to receivers of the last three seasons---No Eifert, No Floyd---No chemistry at all developed with his receiver corps, that will be a work in progress as the season goes on.

I recommend some of you STEELY yourselves for some very sketchy outings by REES.

His MO is that he will be effective with his quick release against the weaker half of the schedule and mostly DREADFUL against the top half of the schedule.

I like Tommy, but he is an average QB, that throws INTs frequently and has limited physical skills, and none of that is going to change.

My hope is that we run some up-tempo and throw a lot on first down when his quick short passes have their best chance of success. Up-Tempo could keep defenses somewhat honest.

Every DC we play has the book on Rees---if we run the slow, deliberate, cautious offense that everyone will expect I think its very problematic getting much out of this offense in 2013. Defenses will stack the box to stop the run, and we will be facing many 2nd & longs and way too many third downs.

The staff has TWO options IMO.---Run the expected Rees offense , run the ball, throw sparingly, play field position, run the full clock on every snap, shorten the game, & rely on the defense to win close games.---

That is risks fielding a very ANEMIC offense week in and week out.

The alternative is a more aggressive west coast type offense, throw on first down often, pass to establish the run--take some shots downfield to keep defenses honest---have a package for HENDRIX or ZAIRE that allows QB runs and keeps defenses guessing a bit. Don't base the play calling on FEAR of Tommy's inevitable picks--but rather base it on getting as many points as possible with what we have.

Clearly that approach also has its risks .

Personally I would prefer a more aggressive scheme even with the risks , but realistically I expect that staff to play it very slow & safe. Unfortunately I think 10 wins is a HUGE mountain with the offense we will bring in 2013 sans GOLSON/EIFERT/THEO & CIERRE!

Bold #1 - You must not remember how often we rolled out with Rees. And as someone pointed out we didn't run the read option last year they were designed pull out runs for EG. Floyd wasn't here last year either so probably time to move along there. Eifert wasn't just Tommy's go to he was BK's. You don't think all his second string reps, spring ball, summer 7on and camp enough time to develop some chemistry?

Bold #2 - It wasn't like our offense last year was stellar against the better half of our schedule. In fact most of our games we did just enough and that was with the help from a great defense providing excellent field position.

Bold #3 - Yes, everyone has the book on Rees. Shouldn't that allow us to really develop a plan of attack and let Tommy and BK work on what works best against that game plan. I don't know about you but if I was in a competition I would love to know what the other guy wanted to do.

The second paragraph of this bolded section is not too far off what we did last year. We were fairly vanilla throughout most games, ran the ball, played field position. But again I don't think you are remembering the last time Rees was at the helm. We did not throw sparingly. He probably checked out of runs into passes far more than the opposite. BK has said it many times we have to be able to throw the ball and we will.

 

[alohagoirish]

Rees was NOT replaced by a freshman after 16 or so starts because he was IMPROVING so dramatically as he became an upperclassman.

In my eye Tommy looked to be a much more fluid passer and more confident QB in his early outings--Tulsa/Miami/ & yes even Michigan 2011 when that TD pass to theo in the waning seconds should have been his shining moment despite his PICKS.

But since defenses have adjusted to Tommy he has been more tentative in the pocket IMO.

Every DC will put 8 in the box on first down and drop everyone on third down---its been that way since the book on him became clear in 2011.

I think its FINE so many of you have this emerging confidence in Tommy, maybe he will exceed my expectations and live up to that.

But I think these Go tommy Go posts will EVAPORATE very quickly as this season goes on.

We can revisit this when the rubber hits the road in Ann Arbor. I hope some of the REES is going to be vastly improved posters are NOT the same ones throwing him under the bus a few weeks into the season.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Does anyone know how possible it is to improve 'arm strength'? Like bench press or something?

If I were him that's what I would have been working on this whole offseason. But then again, it's almost like speed -- you don't tend to see a whole lot of year-over-year improvement versus what a player is just naturally born with.

 

[NDdomer2]

Does anyone know how possible it is to improve 'arm strength'? Like bench press or something?

If I were him that's what I would have been working on this whole offseason. But then again, it's almost like speed -- you don't tend to see a whole lot of year-over-year improvement versus what a player is just naturally born with.

Long toss throwing the football is probably the best thing outside of just getting stronger legs, core, upper body.

 

[GoIrish41]

Does anyone know how possible it is to improve 'arm strength'? Like bench press or something?

If I were him that's what I would have been working on this whole offseason. But then again, it's almost like speed -- you don't tend to see a whole lot of year-over-year improvement versus what a player is just naturally born with.

I think it is definately possible to improve "arm strength". When I play golf it never ceases to amaze me when some skinny guy tees it up and smacks it down the center of the fairway 300 yards, and a minute later a big guy dribbles it 200 yards. It has every bit as much to do with form, timing and coordination than any natural gift. I hope for Tommy's sake, and the sake of all with high expectations for ND that he worked on all those things during the off season.

 

[NDWorld247]

Every DC will put 8 in the box on first down and drop everyone on third down---its been that way since the book on him became clear in 2011.

I hope they do. We need to be less predictable on offense (i.e. run, run, pass) and open it up on early downs. If we're consistently putting Tommy in 3rd and long situations, he is going to struggle, as any QB would, and we are going to be in big trouble. And, if we're consistently burning teams through the air that put eight in the box on 1st down, the book will be re-written very quickly.

I really think Rees' success will be predicated on everyone around him doing their jobs (i.e. OL not getting beat, WRs catching the ball, unpredictable play calling) as much as it's on Rees to execute. If everything around him is functioning well, I have trust he will not be the one holding the offense back.

 

[adsnorri]

Tommy is a gunner, he will have some great plays and he will throw picks. Think of Brett Favre without the long ball. Let's hope the picks don't happen in key situations of the game and we will be fine. Kelly can preach all he wants to Tommy about taking care of the ball but he will thread the needle when he feels like it because he knows, it's his job unless he does atrocious, which won't happen. We will win 9-10 games, I think. I would like to see some long runs, so we don't have to drive down the field for 80 yards every time. Would really help...

IrishIllustrated.com - Experienced where it matters

 

[Irishman77]

Tommy is a gunner, he will have some great plays and he will throw picks. Think of Brett Favre without the long ball. Let's hope the picks don't happen in key situations of the game and we will be fine. Kelly can preach all he wants to Tommy about taking care of the ball but he will thread the needle when he feels like it because he knows, it's his job unless he does atrocious, which won't happen. We will win 9-10 games, I think. I would like to see some long runs, so we don't have to drive down the field for 80 yards every time. Would really help...

IrishIllustrated.com - Experienced where it matters

Brett Farve and Rees played the same position. That is the ONLY similarity. I am as diehard as it gets but reality needs a glance here.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Brett Farve and Rees played the same position. That is the ONLY similarity. I am as diehard as it gets but reality needs a glance here.

Well, I think they're both sons of HS FB coaches. AND, they both seem to really like beer.

 

[IrishLax]

Did you reference the same play that I did in my last post on purpose? If not, you know what they say about great minds...

However, I do think the throw against Pitt was about making a late decision more than a lack of arm strength. Sure, if he had a cannon he might get away with that throw, but more than anything he just failed to get the ball out quickly enough after diagnosing things. If he improves his ability to quickly go through his progression, he won't need a laser-rocket arm.

I missed this the first time around but that is exactly the play I was referring to. Great minds and all that jazz haha. The bolded is what is crucial... Joe Flacco (or even Golson) sees that guy break open and fires it down field for a TD. Tommy sees it and "fires" the ball late for an INT because he doesn't have the arm. Tommy Rees will live and die by how quickly he can get the ball out to the right guy this season.

I see a lot of drudging up 2011. When making comparisons of Tommy it makes less sense to bring up 2011 when he played far better in 2012 and received considerable reps despite being a backup. Yeah, he's not going to have a cannon for an arm anytime soon, that much won't change, but I think his turnover problems that plagued him as an underclassmen (Which should be expected) are past him for the most part.

I don't see why people think he played "well" in 2012. Here is crappy "highlight" video:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/39y4b_HH1F4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Remember... these are HIGHLIGHTS... and in these highlights, I count 6 bad or "jump ball" style throws where the WR had to make a GREAT play... and 4 passes that were thrown well. So just to reiterate... we're talking about highlights where the majority of his throws are "OMG I can't believe that worked."

Also, to whoever posted he wasn't "bad" against BYU... there was a string from the 1st quarter through the last minute of the 3rd quarter where he didn't complete a single pass. That's an entire half of a game without a completion. In no universe is that good.

 

[arrowryan]

Some people are saying that the team is gonna struggle to score points with Tommy at quarterback. Well, we struggled to score points with Everett as well so I guess it wouldn't have mattered who started

 

[STLDomer]

Yeah those Tommy highlights could double as our skill players most acrobatic catches of the year highlights

 

[NDdomer2]

lax i hope you arent counting niklas td as one of your 6. i agree a lot of those were prayers but i think niklas td is pretty well thrown

 

[IrishLax]

lax i hope you arent counting niklas td as one of your 6. i agree a lot of those were prayers but i think niklas td is pretty well thrown

No my 6 bad and/or jump ball throws are:
-Throw to Goodman against Purdue
-PI against Stanford
-Riddick in OT
-TJ Jones TD in OT
-Eifert #1 against BYU
-TJ Jones against BYU

Those all require ridiculous catches and/or good luck to be completed. And these are his highlights.

 

[IrishLion]

lax i hope you arent counting niklas td as one of your 6. i agree a lot of those were prayers but i think niklas td is pretty well thrown

This is a debate that will never get settled haha. I watched it and thought there were three poor throws guaranteed, three good throws guaranteed, and the rest is splitting hairs. They look like jump balls/prayers, but they may actually be considered "well thrown" as well if Tommy was intentionally doing it.

If I had Eifert on my team, I'd loft it up every time and say "go get it big fella." And then I'd congratulate myself on simply dropping it over the top in the general area.

 

[phork]

We were steam rolling Michigan in UTL1 until we took the foot off the gas. It took several miracles for them to pull that out, and they did. Rees is going to be fine, but its still going to be 3 years before we can match our offense with our defense.

 

[BGIF]

Some people are saying that the team is gonna struggle to score points with Tommy at quarterback. Well, we struggled to score points with Everett as well so I guess it wouldn't have mattered who started

Solid point it hasn't mattered who has been the QB for Kelly at ND, Crist, Rees, Hendrix, or Golson. They've all struggled in the Red Zone for each of Kelly's 3 seasons.

The big improvement in wins between '11 and '12 was due to the large improvement on defense. Golson did have fewer TOs in '12 than Rees in '11 but the bigger difference was the takeaways by the Irish Defense.

 

[GaryMcLain'sSkiLodge]

I missed this the first time around but that is exactly the play I was referring to. Great minds and all that jazz haha. The bolded is what is crucial... Joe Flacco (or even Golson) sees that guy break open and fires it down field for a TD. Tommy sees it and "fires" the ball late for an INT because he doesn't have the arm. Tommy Rees will live and die by how quickly he can get the ball out to the right guy this season.



I don't see why people think he played "well" in 2012. Here is crappy "highlight" video:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/39y4b_HH1F4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Remember... these are HIGHLIGHTS... and in these highlights, I count 6 bad or "jump ball" style throws where the WR had to make a GREAT play... and 4 passes that were thrown well. So just to reiterate... we're talking about highlights where the majority of his throws are "OMG I can't believe that worked."

Also, to whoever posted he wasn't "bad" against BYU... there was a string from the 1st quarter through the last minute of the 3rd quarter where he didn't complete a single pass. That's an entire half of a game without a completion. In no universe is that good.

RE: the throw at 2:07. Tommy gets hit and throws off his back foot 32 yards (on a line) ACROSS THE FIELD. We talk often about his lack of arm strength, but I think his bigger problem is his lack of mobility. Tommy has the capability to throw the ball far enough if he can set his feet. I think he has been told to be conservative with his throws because he loses accuracy on his "long balls." Remember, turnovers have always been his problem. Let's not discount the possibility that he has improved his arm strength without losing accuracy. Remember, players CAN improve upon their weaknesses.

 

[IrishLax]

This is a debate that will never get settled haha. I watched it and thought there were three poor throws guaranteed, three good throws guaranteed, and the rest is splitting hairs. They look like jump balls/prayers, but they may actually be considered "well thrown" as well if Tommy was intentionally doing it.

If I had Eifert on my team, I'd loft it up every time and say "go get it big fella." And then I'd congratulate myself on simply dropping it over the top in the general area.

Heh which is why only one of my 6 was a pass to Eifert. 5/6 include a miraculous over the shoulder grab by a RB, an insane TD catch on a pass thrown WAY behind by TJ Jones, a great grab by Goodman on a panic throw, a jump ball with a lucky PI, and TJ Jones making a truly incredible grab against BYU.

The one Eifert throw I listed you can definitely split hairs about... but he's in the process of starting to run by his defender and has to do a pirouette to make a great grab an underthrown ball to his back shoulder. Intentional? Maybe... that crap works with maybe a half dozen TEs in the world though, NFL included.

 

[IrishLax]

RE: the throw at 2:07. Tommy gets hit and throws off his back foot 32 yards (on a line). We talk often about his lack of arm strength, but I think his bigger problem is his lack of mobility. Tommy has the capability to throw the ball far enough if he can set his feet. I think he has been told to be conservative with his throws because he loses accuracy on his "long balls." Remember, turnovers have always been his problem. Let's not discount the possibility that he has improved his arm strength without losing accuracy. Remember, players CAN improve their weaknesses.

Very good point. He's very good when he has a clean pocket to set his feet.... throwing on the run, stepping up under pressure, etc. are when problems happen. He just doesn't have great footwork or athleticism.

I expect this year to be the best Tommy Rees we have seen by far. This is the first time he will be "the man" under center. The question is whether that will be good enough. I'm more worried about red zone efficiency than anything else.

 

[NDdomer2]

Very good point. He's very good when he has a clean pocket to set his feet.... throwing on the run, stepping up under pressure, etc. are when problems happen. He just doesn't have great footwork or athleticism.

I expect this year to be the best Tommy Rees we have seen by far. This is the first time he will be "the man" under center. The question is whether that will be good enough. I'm more worried about red zone efficiency than anything else.

this.

 

[tko]

this.

There are zero worries with Louis Nix running the rock inside the 5.

 

[Irish2155]

There are zero worries with Louis Nix running the rock inside the 5.

How many worries with Tommy throwing it inside the 20?

 

[fightingirish26]

Also, the staff will have had all summer to make sure that they have the most effective gameplan for Rees as possible. Remember, every appearance thus far was a result of him being largely thrown into the mix. This is the first time ever that we know Rees is the starter before the season begins